Bartram bags five in Uppingham win

A SENSATIONAL spell of bowling from Colan Bartram helped Uppingham secure their first win in more than two months on Sunday.

Uppingham played fellow strugglers Medbourne away and after a run of six defeats since they beat Medbourne at home at the end of June, Uppingham needed a win to keep themselves out of danger at the foot of the Rutland League’s top flight.

Medbourne batted first and opened with Steve Punchard, who went on make 66, and George Clarke who was one of two early wickets, falling for just four runs. After seven overs Medbourne were two down for just 43 thanks to some hostile bowling from Tom Roberts (2 for 29) and a helpful wicket due to the heavy rain of the previous few days.

But Medbourne steadied and Steve Lilley (27) and Punchard pushed the Medbourne score on rapidly to 103 runs before Punchard was caught out by a juggling catch from Mark Cox on the boundary, off the bowling of Scott Green in the 18th over.

Lilley quickly followed, bowled by Max Collins and then Colan Bartram was finally brought into the attack at the 25 over mark; and he utterly destroyed the Medbourne innings.

Bartram took five wickets in four overs for no runs, decimating Medbourne’s lower order and when the final wicket, Joel Nance, fell to a silly run out Medbourne had collapsed all out for 137 runs.

Despite Bartram turning the game Uppingham’s way, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Town, whose reply began dramatically with Jamie Dumford bowled off the first ball of the innings by Brad Downing.

Will Cropper (66) promoted to opener on his return to the first team and Martin Bennett (27) then put on a partnership of 84 for the second wicket.

Cropper was the first to go, caught by Andy Holyoak off the bowling of Punchard after an entertaining innings of 66 runs from 43 balls, hitting 10 fours and 2 sixes. Bennett soon followed, trapped lbw off the bowling of Finley Clarke.

Mark Cox made 31 not out in his new role at number four, and Max Collins saw Uppingham through to a comfortable win after the loss of three quick wickets to Steve Punchard, who was the pick of the Medbourne bowlers with 4 for 25 runs.